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Description: | An artillery castle, known as Portland Castle, situated along the northern shore of the Isle of Portland. It represents one of a pair of coastal fortifications constructed during the reign of Henry VIII in order to provide protection for the sheltered waters of Weymouth Bay. The two forts are sited on opposite sides of the bay and are inter-visible. Portland Castle has a central citadel which is fan shaped in plan. The structure is composed of ashlar dressed Portland Stone producing a 'rounded' external appearance. The citadel includes a single storey gun room facing across the harbour. The gun room was originally roofed and has embrasures for a further battery of five guns protected by an embattled parapet. This also shielded a second battery situated on the roof of the accommodation block. To the south and south east of the citadel was an outer yard which contained two gun platforms. The construction of the fortification followed the advice of a Commission set up by Henry VIII in 1539, in response to a possible French invasion. It was thought to be have been complete by late 1540 and in service by early 1541. During the Civil War the castle was the scene of some fighting, after which it was used as an ordnance store and later a prison. Between 1816-70 the castle became a private residence. It was used as a seaplane base during World War I. In World War II it housed a coast artillery battery and was part of the D-Day operations. | Subjects: | Defence Transport Seaplane Base Civil Domestic Maritime House Artillery Castle Prison Coastal Battery Ordnance Store | Source: | English Heritage - Viewfinder | Creator: | National Monuments Record | Identifier: | http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk... | Language: | en | Go to resource |
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